(November 20, 2012) -- Rafael Nadal gave the tennis world and his many fans more encouraging news that he'll be back on the pro tour next year as he returned to the practice courts.

Nadal, with the help of his coach and uncle Toni Nadal, engaged in a practice session at an indoor facility in Manacor on the island of Majorca. Nadal, through his Twitter account, debuted the release of several brief online videos of his practice earlier this morning.

After being out of action for over six months due to an ongoing knee injury that forced him of out of the Olympics, the U.S. Open and the Davis Cup finals, Nadal is hoping to make a full return to the ATP Tour in time for next January's Australian Open. Nadal is scheduled to make his first appearance at the upcoming Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi during the last week of December.